1952 Olympics - Dick Button, Men's Champion

Here's a link to the IOC's write-up on the 1952 Winter Olympics, held in Oslo, with some terrific photographs of 22-year-old Dick Button of the USA winning his second Olympic gold medal. Great skating, Dick! He became the first skater to ever land a triple jump in Olympic competition - the triple loop.

Here's a link to the IOC's write-up on the 1952 Winter Olympics, held in Oslo, with some terrific photographs of 22-year-old Dick Button of the USA winning his second Olympic gold medal. Great skating, Dick! He became the first skater to ever land a triple jump in Olympic competition - the triple loop.

Many, many male figure skaters have since astounded us with their technical prowess, but first and foremost there was Dick. Like Sonia slightly before him, they made figure skating a very popular sport.

...back when the competitions were held outdoors. Bet those were very cold days for the judges!!

As much as we often tease Dick as a commentator (well, I do anyway!) he really has made contributions to the sport both on and off the ice.

DG

I remember Dick joking with Peggy Fleming back in 1997 about being at the first outdoor world championships.

(During Yulia Lavrenchuk's Macarena free skate)
Terry: And there was a day when these championships were held outside...
Peggy: Right. I was at the last. 1968.
Dick: I was at the first.
Peggy: We're a study in contrast here...